Champions Cup looks a real thriller

Jack Milner

The Gold Cup race meeting is arguably the best race day on the South African calendar.

There are 10 races on Saturday’s card, all of them features. Four Grade 1s, three Grade 2s, one Grade 3 and two Listed races make up the card and the entire meeting is a Hong Kong World Pool event so punters can bet large amounts on TAB with virtually no effects on the payouts.

In addition, there will be a R1-million carryover to the Pick 6 with a likely pool of R10 million while R500,000, will be added to the Quartet pool for Race 7, the HKJC Gold Cup over 3200m and that is likely to reach R2 million.

While the Gold Cup remains a Grade 3 race, it is still regarded as the country’s premier stayers’ event and 13 runners are headed up by Gareth van Zyl-trained King Pelles, who staked his claim with an impressive three-length victory in the Gold Bowl over 3000m at the same course on Durban July day.

The four-year-old Duke Of Marmalade gelding could not have been more impressive with that win and the manner in which he left his opposition standing indicates the extra 200m will make no difference.

Van Zyl has given his charge the perfect preparation and from No 4 draw with S’manga Khumalo on his back, King Pelles looks a tough runner to beat and barring any problems in running, he should be a banker in the carryover Pick 6.

There is no doubt the Grade 1 HKJC Champions Cup over 1800m is the most intriguing race on the card and it could well decide who will be crowned Equus Horse Of The Year.

With the scratching of Litigation the field has been reduced to just eight runners. There does not look to be much pace in the race and as result it could turn into a very tactical race.

Of the eight runners, one could make a winning case for six of them. You firstly have last year’s winner Dave The King from the Mike and Mathew de Kock yard and the way the race pans out it could well work in his favour.

If Dave The King lands a soft lead and can get away in the straight, he will have the rest of the field on the back foot. Callan Murray is unbeaten on the Global View gelding and is unlikely to be caught napping.  

Then there is Hollywoodbets Durban July winner The Real Prince who stayed 2200m and could well be even better dropping to 1800m. With Craig Zackey back in the irons after a suspension, Dean Kannemeyer’s runner has been priced up as the bookmakers favourite.

We also have three-year-old Fire Attack who did not run in the Durban July, and had an excellent warm-up race in the Grade 3 Sea Cottage Stakes. It is worth noting that Richard Fourie stays with Alec Laird’s runner after their success in the Grade 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge at Turffontein.

Gladatorian found 2200m in the Durban July a touch too far but he cannot be ignored over this trip. Stuart Ferrie’s charge got within 0.35-lengths of Dave The King in the Gold Challenge over 1600m and was the fastest finisher. Sean Veale is back in the irons.

It was disappointing that See It Again had to miss out on his Durban July run but if he runs to his best form, the Michael Roberts-trained gelding is good enough to beat this field. Keagan de Melo takes that ride.

Finally, we have Royal Victory. This gelding is one of the most honest runners around and regular jockey Muzi Yeni is devastated he is unable to take the ride owing to a suspension.

However, he has a most able substitute in Piere Strydom and if this does turn into a highly tactical race, there are very few jockeys more up to the job than the 59-year-old.

Of course, this will be his last chance to grab a Grade 1 race before retiring at the end of the month and it would be a fitting exit for him.

On form, Nathan Kotzen’s charge is not without a chance. He is 2.5kg better off with The Real Prince on their Durban July run and has a 3kg turnaround with Fire Attack on their Champions Challenge contest.

Trainer Alan Greeff has trained feature-race winners around the country but he could have achieved a first in the Douglas Whyte Stakes for fillies where Golden Palm has been priced up an odds-on favourite at 15-20 to win this Grade 1 race.

Greeff has had the most remarkable season and going into this meeting is sitting in second place on the national trainers’ list, with only Justin Snaith ahead of him.

Greeff’s other runner on the card is Bournemouth in the Gold Cup and he is the one unknown factor in the race.

It is worth noting that Fourie will be riding both the Greeff runners.